Continental Is Advancing Server-based Vehicle Architectures with Zone Control Un

1. Continental Is Advancing Server- based Vehicle Architectures with ZoneControlUnits • Cross-domainzone control unit constitutes the middle tier of server-basedarchitecturesinthevehicle • Zonecontrolunitintegratespowersupplyforcomponentsand supportstheseparationofhardwareandsoftware • Intelligentdistributionoftasksbetweenserver,zonecontrolunit andelectroniccomponentsofaphysicalzone • Multiple ordersfor zone control units from automotive manufacturersworldwide • Jean-FrançoisTarabbia,HeadoftheArchitectureandNetworking • businessarea: “Our platform-basedandmodulardevelopment approachforzonecontrolunitsenablesustostartseriesproduction within almost a yearof receiving the order. Thisis how we are bringingthesoftware-definedvehicletotheroad” • Regensburg,Germany, April18, 2024. With the series introduction of so-called ZoneControl Units (ZCUs)for Europeanand Asian car manufacturers,Continentalhasimplementedanotherkeycomponentof server-basedarchitecturesinadditiontohigh-performancecomputers. • Thetechnologycompanyhasreceivedmultiplecustomerordersforzone • control units from car manufacturersworldwide.Continental’s electronicsspecialists are drivingthe developmentof software-defined vehiclesworldwide.Zone control units form the middle tier of the server-based electricaland electronic (E/E) architecturein software- definedvehicles.Betweenthelevelsofsensorsandactuatorsaswellas thehigh-performancecomputers,theyredistributethevehicle • architectureandensuretheelectronicsinteractsmoothlyacrossdomains, • reducecomplexityandarethekeytoovertheairsoftwareupdatesinthe vehicle.

2. “With high-performance computers,we are pioneersin thetop control tier of server-basedvehiclearchitectures.With zone control units, we also offer a solution for the middle tier. Our platform-basedand modular development approachenablesus to start series production within just over a yearof receiving an order.Thisis how we are bringing the software-definedvehicleto the road more speedily,”saysJean-François Tarabbia,Head of the ArchitectureandNetworkingbusinessarea at Continental. OptimizeddatalinksbetweenZCUsandelectroniccomponentsofa physicalzone One ZCU bundles all electronicand electricalconnectionsin a local section of the vehicle.For example,ZCUs are responsiblefor all service anddatamanagementtasksinthevehicleareassuchasthefront,rightor left,ortherear.ThisoptimizesdatapathsbetweenZCUsandelectronic componentssuchassensorsandactuatorsinaphysicalzone.Insteadof up to a hundredor evenmore individualcontrol units as before,the result is an architecturethat reducescomplexityand at the sametime savesweight, thereby reducingCO2emissions.This allows the highly complexwiring harnessin modernvehiclesto be streamlinedto such an extentthatvehiclemanufacturerswill be able to installit automatically inthefuture. TheZCUs are generallyconnectedto the relevanthigh-performance computer via a powerfulEthernetlink and therebysupport features of the high-performancecomputer such as the separationof hardwareand softwareaswellasoptimumcybersecurityandupdatecapability.Atthe same time, they are responsiblefor specialtaskssuch as control, real- time functions,signalto serviceconversion,communication managementanddecentralizedenergysupply. ScalableportfolioforthenewE/Earchitecture It is a structured newbeginning:where individualfunctions, or functionalareaswerepreviouslyintegratedintoindividualcontrolunits

3. in the vehicle,a new approachis now being taken.Asthe vehicle becomesmore software-definedand part of the Internetof Things(IoT), the complex E/E architecturewith its manyembeddedsystemsis provingto be unsuitable.The solution lies in a streamlined architecture with just three levels:individualsensorsand actuators work at the “base.”Abovethis is the middlelevel of local control andsoftware and datamanagement.ThistieroftheZCUhasaspecialfeature:dataflows from differentdomains mergehere and are forwardedin a coordinated mannerto the top control level consistingof a few high-performance computers.In turn, the ZCUs actas intermediariesto ensure the execution of commandsfrom the servertier. Moreover,the ZCU can supply powerto the peripheralECUs as well as providingelectrical protection of up to 40 amps.ZCUs also offer a solution for future 48- volt electricalsystems.Of course, the ZCUs supportfunctionalsafety requirementsas well as the rules of the so-called Safety Elementsout of Context(SEooC) for the reuse of (software) componentsin other vehicles. Platformfortheservice-orientedandsoftware-drivenvehicle “AZCUislikeatailor-madeworkhorseandgatewayinthevehicle. Thisnewarchitectureconsiderablysimplifiesthewiringharnessand thussavesweight.Thecleardivisionof tasks,theseparationof hardware andsoftwareandthestandardizationofinterfacesmakeitmucheasierto managethe growingcomplexityand the virtually exploding scope of software in the vehicle,”explainsDragos Bohotineanu,Head of ZCU product groupin the ArchitectureandNetworkingbusinessarea at Continental. Aslocal datanodes,theZCUs simplify datamanagement and the provisionof services.TheZCUsalsosupportthesecureinstallationof new updates thatreach the vehicle“over the air.” Thisis ensuredby special cybersecurityelements. Themodular structure of the platform gives youthe freedomto adaptthe respective ZCU optimally to the specificrequirementsofanapplication.

4. Asproven application software can continue to be used in new vehicle models,thevalidationeffortisreducedanddevelopmentisaccelerated– this could speedup the productlaunchspeed.“With our platform for zonecontrol units, we support our customers in masteringand minimizingcomplexity,”saysBohotineanu. The potential to makethe E/E architectureof software-definedvehiclesmore efficient will further increasetherelevanceofthisproductsol